Bedstead fob invalids



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ISAIAH BUCKMAN, OF SOUTH 1WOODSTOCK, VERMONT.

BEDSTEAD FOR INVALIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 6,314, dated April l?, 1849.

To all 'wlw/m- 25 may concern Be it known that l, IsAiAi-t BUCKMAN, of South llVoodstock, in the county of vWindsor and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedsteads for lnvalids, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings of the same making part of this specification, in which Figure l is a side elevation, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section.

The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The nature of my invention and improvement consists, in constructing a bed for sick or disabled persons, in such a manner that patients may be elevated and suspended at any desired height, for the purpose of being aired, and to ventilate and adjust the bed, also to facilitate and render cleanly the operation of emitting discharges into a suitable vessel, through the aperture in the bottom of the canvas, that they may be changed from the lying, through all the intermediate gradations to a sitting position (an easy and favorable recumbent position being at all times easily maintained), that the bed linen may be readily changed; and that they may be washed, or bathed in water or vapor; these dierent operations being performed with far less inconvenience to the patient, and much greater facility and ease to the attendant than when done in the usual way.

ln the accompanying' drawings, a the frame, very nearly resembles that of a common bedstead, and for convenience of removal from one room to another, is separated into two parts at the points b the joining being effected by mortises and tenons or otherwise. On the inner corners of the post-s, rebates are formed to guide the suspension frames c cl the corners of which slide up and down in them, at the lower end of these rebates springs are placed for the frames to rest on, which admits of an undulatory motion being given to them. The frames c d are suspended by cords passing over pullies in the upper part of the frame a, which cords are also connected with and wound around the windlasses m a 0 by turning which the frames are raised and lowered, or varied in their inclination, in a way which will appear obvious from an inspection of the drawings. The suspension frames are of a rectangular form, the side pieces of the lower frame c turning on their axes, either to slacken or wind up the can stretched between them,` on the ends of these side pieces ratchet wheels are placed into which pawls take to hold hold them in any desired, position, the auxiliary frame 0 is for the purpose of raising and lowering the head of the patient. A series of sheets are join-ed and wound around the roller e the last of the series being passed over the top of the canvas in the frame c, to the roller e, upon which the sheets are successively wound after having been used. Then the frame c is in its lowest position the patient reposes upon the bed g, but when this frame is raised he is suspended as if in a sailors hammock. The upper frame Z supports a vessel with a perforated bottom, to contain water for shower bathing, the perforations being` covered by a sliding lid when it is required to prevent the water from ruiming down. To the under side of this frame a pair of hinged folding wings i are attached, to these wings curtains of water proof cloth are connected, and the spaces between the ends of the wings are curtained also, these curtains are to prevent the water from splashing over the bed when the patient is being showered, upon the lower frame beneath the patient an oblong piece of water proof cloth a' is placed, its edges being held up by buttons, hooks or otherwise, to form a kind of tray to contain the patient and the bathing water. The prolongation of one end of this cloth when turned over the foot of the bed, forms a very convenient spout to conduct the water into a vessel placed there to receive it.

The operation of showering is performed as follows-first, put into the shower box the required quantity of water, then by turning the windlass elevate it to the desired height, and at the proper time open the perforations in the bottom of the boX, and let the water fall, then close the perfo rations again.

In Fig. l the cloth fr is shown in part turned down and partly hooked up.

The steam bath is formed by inclosing the patient and the perforated tubes r Fig. l between the curtains the steam is generated in the boiler s and passes through the pipes r into the curt-ained compartment. If

ranged substantially in the manner and for 15 Vthe purpose herein described.

2. The combination of the sheets and the rollers upon Which they are Wound, With the bedstead,' substantially as described.

3. The combination of the shower box and 20 steaming apparatus, With the curtaned compartment, substantially as herein described.

IsArAH BUCKMAN.

Witnesses DANIEL RANsoM, JOHN S. PARKER. 

